< 25 Top Pension Power Players

Few political operatives appear better suited to thrive in the topsy-turvy world of Washington under the 45th president of the United States than Puerto Rico’s new man in D.C., Corey Lewandowski. And as a lobbyist for the commonwealth, he could become an unlikely pension savior.

When he met Donald Trump, Lewandowski had gained a name for himself as a bruiser and a doer in New Hampshire politics; in January 2016 he became the real estate mogul’s campaign manager. His tenure didn’t last long, but his scowling presence set the tone for the Republican candidate’s campaign, and he’s given credit for the “let Trump be Trump” approach, which proved a winning strategy.

Now Lewandowski, 43, is back in Washington as a lobbyist. One of his first clients: cash-strapped Puerto Rico. In late January the territory and its recently elected governor, Ricardo Rosselló, 37, were in talks with Lewan­dowski’s new firm, Avenue Strategies, to represent the commonwealth. Any resolution of Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis will have to address a massively underfunded public pension system and the payment of pension benefits going forward. Also, a restructuring of the territory’s pension debt could set a precedent for what happens to U.S. states struggling with pension burdens. — Imogen Rose-Smith

 
The 2017 Pension Political Power 25

1. Andy Puzder Secretary of Labor Building Resilient Portfolios: Infrastructure’s Strategic Advantage Sponsored by IFM Investors May 9, 2025 2. Bruce Rauner Governor of Illinois 3. Betsy DeVos Secretary of Education 4. Laura & John Arnold Founders, Laura and John Arnold Foundation 5. Steven Mnuchin Secretary of the Treasury

6. Wilbur Ross Secretary of Commerce 7. Tani Cantil-Sakauye California Chief Justice 8. Paul Ryan Speaker of the House 9. Anthony Scaramucci Founder, SkyBridge Capital 10. Kevin de León California State Senator and President Pro Tempore

11. Mike Enzi Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security 12. Steve Sweeney President, New Jersey State Senate 13. Jerry Brown Governor of California 14. Corey Lewandowski Co-founder, Avenue Strategies 15. Paul Singer President, Elliott Management Corp.

16. Randel Johnson Senior Vice President, Labor, Immigration, and Employee Benefits, U.S. Chamber of Commerce 17. Joe Manchin U.S. Senator 18. Kenneth Feinberg Founder and managingpartner, Feinberg Rozen 19. Scott Walker Governor of Wisconsin 20. Richard Trumka President, AFL-CIO

21. Mike Rawlings Mayor of Dallas 22. Elizabeth Warren U.S. Senator 23. Kent Mason Partner, Davis & Harman 24. Bernie Sanders U.S. Senator 25. Randi Weingarten President, American Federation of Teachers